Electrical fixture-supporting device



fi vi 1... I 1.,

July 19, 1927. 1,636,278

R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 20; 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

IIIIIII T a v aw H Jul 192 y 7 R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 20. 1921 2 sums-sheet 2 eppended claims.

Patented July 19, 1927.

;.;uni r ;n ism-sizes RATE-N?! tors! A REUBEN B. BENJAM or omonco rrnmors, nssrcnon r nnmemn ELECTRIC .MANUIACZEURING ,CQMP ANY, OF'QHICAGO, ILLmpIs}, oolrr'onnrron or ILLINOIS.

ELEGTRIG'AL rrx'rUnE-surromme nEvIcE. 1

. Application. filedrilleyrw, 1921. .Serial :;No. 411,077.

My invention relates to 1 electrical fixture supporting devices, therefor.

One of the objects flll wlllyilllVfiIltlQn, .lSi'tO provide n; improved :fixture i supporting -;device, in which; the fixturepcun be readily connected ,and disconnectednvith respect to ,the receptacle iboth electrically and mechanically.

A further ,object of' iny invention is: to pronide such a device-Which willibe simple in 7 construction, 1- cheepto manufacture and durable and efficient in use.

"Further objects will appeergtrom the de tailed description ,to follow and from; the

(and the connections In the drawings, iniwhich several embodiments of any invention are shown- 1 is a side elevation, partly in isection, of! an electrical fixture, with its support; and electrical connections;

iFig.,2is1;esection ion the line-,Q QJof Fig. 1; i i

%Fig. 3 is e ,front elevationcfithe receptacle "with the fecemlete removed;

Fig. 4 is it rear elevetional view of the plug-in. part of the fixture-connector;

Fig. 5; i a, side; elevation showing ,a difi'erent type of lixture, und ai different form of plug-in -;device; a

Fig: 6; is it: front, vie'wijof the; plugi-injadevice andfixture support showninaEig. 5, and

Fig. 7 ism side elevctional viev Showing still another form of fixtul'ezsupporting device and' connector.

Referring toF-igs 1 to 4l in'clusive-thciconstruction shown therein comprises nucleotricel; L-fixture 10, en-zelectricali receptacle 11, :r supporting;plate 12 (which; may be e sort of cover-secured to en electrical outletbox) to the inner faceofiwhichthe receptecle ll may, be secured, zit-fixturesupporting device or, bracket -13, permanently secured to the ste1nj14-ofthe fixture 10, 1 for: supporting the li tnreitO in. position with respect to the receptacle ill and a, plug-in device 15 secured to the supportingodevice 13,; and provided with it pair of contactibledes ,16;;t'or; insertion into the receptacle ll for engagement-with the contacts '17. 0'f the receptacle.

Theribracket or supporting devicesliiwhes :1 sort of-sbayonet joint connection lgitllit'he supporting plate or cover 12, soithatqit together with the fixture 1O and plug-in .de-

- vice 15 which it carries can he quickly contie isceiiectedI-byimeans; of a ;pai Q r 0p-,

positely ,-.disped outwardly extending remining projections nfOLHJl ingjlHgS or: ears 1 18 formed gintegrelg-svithlr the-ibracket :13, which lugs 18 cambeslipped: through the, notches 19; (:Fig. 3),. exit-ending: from the central: open ing 20 inzthe: supporting-plate or; corer l2, andithenttu'nned.about l hc axis. ofthe; stem 10, 421 short distance,to hriI-igthe lugs 18 intoposition tosenter:theiipockets ior recesses 21.,fo151nedini theaplate 1-12.

in-order to :perinitithe limited movement ofirotationwhiclnis necessaryitogeilectxthe bayonet joint vconnection viclescniloed, .iit is necessary that ithe lugi -in ltdevic e 15 be mountedron the -:ifixture supportingrbrackct 13i in: such ,a weyia's will permit of &.ce1'tain amount-lot swivelingbetween the, plug-in dewiceenolabracket. XIhisswivelzconnectioncis effected bynneains of.en-eyelet 22 awhichsecnresthe insulating basem2 3 ofItheplugvin device-to esupporting bar 24,;which' extends between and is seoured'tosthe legs :25. .ofq the supporting--brecketl3. lflhetswiveling movementiofcthenplugrin. denim-115 ten the bar 24 isrlimiitednbynneans ,of -,a dug; 26 struck inwardly from the a bar :24 which ;-coopemtes ith an arcuate slot 271 inithezinsuleting :base 231120, limit: the.;swiveling-nnovelnent-between the; two parts, esnai idioaitedz ,incFig. -2.

.zilnciorderut sdmw the-supporting bracke 13 forwardly to hold thelugs :18 securely in the pockets 21, sheet gllilfitfill screwhreadedcmcm i 8 isiprovided sw ich is threede :Qn o {th v1, imshing-29 which conmee th i 'cfixtur istem with the; bracket 13, this-securing:mem i2 ishinning:en annu ar beede cp r i0 0, wh c bear egr ii stithe ou er aedg vo the. canopy: 3l,x. forcing ithe canopy snugly g-ga-inst the supportingwsurface ,32,, andjidrawing the 3 bracket ,13 outw ly cito P Ql .athe .i ugs msecurely w the pockets 21. Binding-screvvs'32 forthe'gfixture wires are; threaded into gthecontact blades 118. 1A finishing ;or;,escutcheomplcte 33 maybe gprovi ded fOIjjthBQQUtIQtEbOX, this @BSCHtQhGQH ,plavte ,being ,secured to thesuPporting pletecr cover l2-by means o coun e sun sc ws 3 The in ulating th s ,-3 tt i e ente l may b =pr videdrvnithsepair;.0f positioning lugs 36 engaging, correspondingly; located notches 37 in the supporting, plate;1;2. {The supporting plate 12 is shown as provided with a number of holes or slots 40, for using in securing the cover in position with various types of outlet boxes.

The base 35 may be secured to the plate 12 by means of a pair of screws 38 (Fig. 3) extending through openings in the insulating base and threaded into the cover 12. The cover 12, the bracket 13 and the cross-bar 24 may be formed of sheet metal stampings.

In connecting the fixture electrically and mechanically, the fixture is presented to the receptacle 11 in position to permit the contact blades 16 to enter the openings 39 which lead to the recesses in which the receptacle contacts 17 are located. The fixture 10 is then turned about the axis of its stem to bring the lugs 18 on the fixture supporting device opposite the notches 19 in the supporting plate 12, then pushed in until the lugs 18 are back of the plate 12, and then turned to bring the lugs 18 opposite the pockets 21. The swivel connection between the plug-in device and the fixture supporting bracket 13 permits this tilting of the fixture about the axis of its stem without interfering with the insertion of the contact blades 16 into the receptacle. The canopy 31 is then pushed up against the supporting surface 32, and the securing member 28 is screwed onto the bushing 29 to cause the canopy 31 to bear firmly against the supporting member 32, and to draw the bracket'l3 outwardly to hold the lugs 18 securely in the pockets 21.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 is quite similar to the construction just described, but here the fixture 41 is secured in place with respect to the fixture supporting bracket 42 by means of a strap 43, the ends of which are secured to the canopy 44, and the center of which engages behind an up wardly extending post 45 formed integral with the bracket 42.

The construction of the plug-in device 1 is the same as in the form previously described, as is also the connection between the bracket 42 and the plug-in device 15 and between the bracket 42 and the receptacle.

In making the electrical and mechanical connection with this construction, the blades 16 are inserted 'into the openings of the re ceptacle, the bracket 42 is turned to bring the lugs 18 opposite the notches 19 in the cover plate 12, the bracket is then pushed in, and turned to bring the lugs 18 opposite the pockets 21, and the fixture 41 is then secured in position by hooking the strap 43 in back of the upwardly extending post 45.

The construction shown in Fig. 7 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, except that here the fixture 46 is secured to the supporting bracket 47 by means of a screw 48, which extends through an opening in the canopy 49, and is threaded into a sleeve 50, secured to or formed on the bracket 47. The construction is otherwise as in the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the plug-in device 15 being the same, and the connection between the bracket 47 and the receptacle and between the bracket 47 and plug-in device. The manner of making the electrical and mechanical connection is also the same, the supporting device 47 being first secured in position, and the canopy 49 being then secured to the supporting device 47 by means of the screw 48.

Vhile I have shown but a few embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that it may be embodied in other forms, covered and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 01' the United States is:

1. A fixture, a receptacle, a push-in electrical connector for cooperation with said receptacle, a supporting member, a mechanical connecting member, and canopy for housing said mechanical connecting member, said mechanical connecting member being carried by said fixture, said push-in connector having a swivel connection with said mechanical connecting member, said mechanical connecting member having a connection with said supporting member which is efiected by 'a plurality of movements, including one of insertion and one of rotation, and means cooperating with said canopy for holding said mechanical connecting member in connected position.

2. A fixture, a receptacle, a push-in electrical connector for cooperation with saidreceptacle, a supporting member, a mechanical connecting member, said mechanical connecting member being carried by said fixture, said push-in connector having a swivel con nection with said mechanical connecting member, said mechanical connecting member having a connection with said supporting member which is effected by a plurality of movements, one of insertion, and one of rotation, and means for holding said mechanical connecting member in connected position, comprising a member having a screw-threaded connection with said mechanical connecting member.

3. A fixture, a receptacle, a push-in electrical connector for cooperation with said receptacle, a supporting member, a mechanical connecting member, said mechanical connecting member being carried by said fixture, a push-in connector having a swivel connection with said mechanical connecting member, a canopy, said mechanical connecting member having a connection with said supporting member which is effected by a plurality of movements, including one of insertion, and one of rotation, and means for holding said mechanical connecting member in connected position comprising a member having a screw-threaded connection with said mechanical connecting member and bearing on said canopy.

1-. Means for manually and electrically connecting fixtures with respect to a recepsecuring bracket, and means providing a,

swivel connection between said bracket and base, comprising a pivot member secured in said central opening, said bracket having securing members which pass through said apertured plate and engage behind said plate by a swivel motion of the bracket.

5. Means for manually and electrically connecting a fixture with respect to a receptacle which has two similarly housed contacts, comprising a plate apertured to permit the passage of securing members and contact blades, a plug having a pair of contact blades for engaging said contacts respectively, and

an insulating base on which said blades'are mounted, and means providing a SWlVBlCOllnection between said bracket and base, comprising a pivot member located intermediate said blades. 7

6. The combination with a fixture, of means for electrically and manually connecting said fixture with respect to a receptacle which has two similarly housed contacts, comprising a plate apertured to permit the passage of securing means and contact blades, a plug having a pair of contact blades for engagement with said contacts respectively and an insulating base on which said blades are mounted, and means for providing a swivel connection between said bracket and base, said bracket having securing means which pass through said apertured plate and engage behind said plate by a swivel motion of the bracket, said fixture being rigidly secured to said bracket to turn therewith in its swivelling movement. 7

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

